That’s exactly what I said to the kids when I spotted this cat. “Look! A lion!”

Spotted him running through the oak brush, looked like maybe chasing a deer. After the kids spotted him my daughter started whistling at him and he stopped, turned and took a few strides our way. Then jumped up on a stump to get a better look at us over the oak brush. Sitting up proud and pretty at about 70 yards!

…hours from pavement, some of the least traveled public land dirt roads in the entire United States. About halfway between nowhere and nowhere else… Two coyotes within 30 yards now and closing fast. The anticipation and adrenaline flowing at maximum. This is what I dream of when I sit down with my shotgun…

“Under the settlement announced Monday by officials for Utah and Juab County and a number of environmental groups, the federal government agreed to reopen Granite Canyon, Toms Creek and Trout Creek roads in the Deep Creek Mountains.”

Last Thursday, after confirming with the BLM that the gates were in fact now open, I pointed the Jeep’s hood west…